27Speaks

Westhampton resident Jack Weber is 100 years old and the subject of “Lessons From 100,” a forthcoming short documentary that will feature Weber in conversation with his grandson as they explore his life, how the world has changed over the last century and what has led to his incredible longevity. Joining the editors this week to talk about his life and the film are Jack Weber, his grandson, filmmaker Matthew Floyd, and his daughter, Barbara Weber-Floyd, the film’s producer.

Much of the economy of the 1st Congressional District on Long Island depends on immigrant laborers, making immigration a key issue in the race for the congressional seat between 1st District Republican Congressman Nick LaLota and Democratic candidate John Avlon.

Hear them share their views on the issue in their own words, recorded in two separate panel interviews in September 2024 at WLIW-FM studios in Southampton, NY.

These recordings have been lightly edited without changing the content of the candidates' statements during the panel interviews. Editing of the candidates has occurred only where a music bed is heard, as well as minor editing of the moderators.

1st District Matters is part of Your Election 2024, a special collection of programs, series, and resources from The WNET Group to illuminate election issues on-air, online, and on YouTube leading into the November 5th elections.

A production of Express News Group and WLIW-FM.

For WLIW-FM:

Moderator: Michael Mackey

Executive Producer: Diane Masciale

Producer: Delaney Hafener

Production: Kyle Lynch

Senior Engineer: Brian Bannon

Legal Services: Marta Castaing

For The Express News Group:

Executive Producer and Moderator: Joseph P. Shaw, Executive Editor

Managing Editor: Bill Sutton

Deputy Managing Editor: Brendan J. O'Reilly

Moderator and Staff Writer: Christopher Walsh

Production Managers: Kerri Cunningham, Sara Mannino Kent

Publishers: Gavin Menu, Kathryn G. Menu

Copyright 2024

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joins the editors on 27Speaks this week to discuss the status of the Equal Rights Amendment, which could have implications on reproductive rights, as well as her push for more funding to combat tick-borne illnesses, particularly Lyme disease, and legislation to address and prevent traumatic brain injuries among members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The state of the economy is one of the most pressing issues across the country, but in the 1st congressional district it's especially urgent to address ever-rising costs of living, record-breaking housing costs, and a dwindling middle class. Democratic congressional candidate John Avlon and 1st District Republican Congressman Nick LaLota hold distinct philosophies on solving the economic problems present throughout Eastern Long Island.

Hear them share their views on the issue in their own words, recorded in two separate panel interviews in September 2024 at WLIW-FM studios in Southampton, NY.

These recordings have been lightly edited without changing the content of the candidates' statements during the panel interviews. Editing of the candidates has occurred only where a music bed is heard, as well as minor editing of the moderators.

1st District Matters is part of Your Election 2024, a special collection of programs, series, and resources from The WNET Group to illuminate election issues on-air, online, and on YouTube leading into the November 5th elections.

A production of Express News Group and WLIW-FM.

For WLIW-FM:

Moderator: Michael Mackey

Executive Producer: Diane Masciale

Producer: Delaney Hafener

Production: Kyle Lynch

Senior Engineer: Brian Bannon

Legal Services: Marta Castaing

For The Express News Group:

Executive Producer and Moderator: Joseph P. Shaw, Executive Editor

Managing Editor: Bill Sutton

Deputy Managing Editor: Brendan J. O'Reilly

Moderator and Staff Writer: Christopher Walsh

Production Managers: Kerri Cunningham, Sara Mannino Kent

Publishers: Gavin Menu, Kathryn G. Menu

Copyright 2024

For the residents of a smattering of streets that can only get out of their neighborhoods via accessing County Road 39, the South Fork traffic situation far transcends inconvenience. Terrifying, nerve-wracking and life-threatening are the terms many use to describe their predicament. A group of residents of the Greenfield Road neighborhood join the editors and reporter Michael Wright on the podcast this week to share their experience.

Miniature whaleboats have been a hallmark of HarborFest in Sag Harbor going back to the 1960s, when author John Steinbeck and others founded the annual event, originally known as the Old Whalers Festival. The whaleboats went under a long-overdue restoration this year to keep them afloat for many HarborFests to come. HarborFest Whaleboat Committee leader Gavin Menu, who is also a co-publisher of The Express News Group, joins the editors on 27Speaks this week to talk about the history of whaleboat racing at HarborFest, which returns September 14 and 15.

A replica of the Amistad docked in Montauk in August, during the same week in 1839 when the original Amistad came aground at Culloden Point in Montauk. The schooner became famous after the Mende people onboard, who had been abducted in Africa to be sold into slavery, revolted against their captors. The ship was seized, and the Mende were put on trial in Connecticut for mutiny. Ultimately, the court sided with the Mende and defended their actions to secure their freedom. Brenda Simmons, the executive director of the Southampton African American Museum, Mia Certic, the executive director of the Montauk Historical Society, and Paula Mann-Agnew, the executive director of Discovering Amistad, join the editors on the podcast to discuss the significance of the Amistad and the planning that went into bringing the replica to Montauk for the first time.

The Express News Group and WLIW-FM are collaborating on separate, issues-based interviews with incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Nick LaLota and Democratic challenger John Avlon. The interviews serve as a way to drill down on topics of importance to the East End and the entire 1st Congressional District and get the candidates on the record about their plans and positions. Diane Masciale, the vice president and general manager of WLIW21 and WLIW-FM, and Gavin Menu, a co-publisher of The Express News Group, join the editors on the podcast this week to discuss the project.

Express News Group interns Hope Hamilton and Dan Stark join the editors to discuss their experience this summer.

Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League President Sandi Kruel and Tom Gleeson, the league's director of development, join the editors on 27Speaks to discuss HCBL's history and the current season.